The norm system functions by doling out rewards to followers and conferring penalties to delinquents. It’s a delicate power balance. If you are an open homophobe in present-day Western societies, you will be punished and held back in a large variety of ways. People will argue against you, win arguments and score points on you as you are embarrassed and demeaned in front of your peers. You won’t get hired, you will get fired, you won’t have as many friends, you probably won’t get laid. And if you speak out too openly and aggressively, you can even be fined and go to prison. Talk about
...more
